Into The Woods (1986)
Words & Music: Stephen Sondheim
Book: James Lapine
Premise: Into the Woods intertwines familiar fairy tales – Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel – through the story of a Baker and his Wife seeking to lift a curse. Act One follows wishes coming true, while Act Two explores the consequences of what happens after the "happily ever after". As a giant threaten the kingdom, characters confront loss, responsibility and moral ambiguity, discovering that desires have costs and that growing up means living with what follows after dreams collide with harsh reality.
Background: Fresh from their success with Sunday in the Park with George, Sondheim and book writer James Lapine developed the idea of using fairy tales as a framework to explore modern anxieties about family, responsibility and adulthood. Rather than retelling the stories straightforwardly, the pair designed a complex, interwoven structure that questioned traditional happy endings, allowing Sondheim to experiment with musical complexity while grounding the work in contemporary emotional realism. The musical premiered at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre before opening on Broadway in 1987. Audiences and critics praised its wit, sophistication and emotional depth, and it won multiple Tony Awards, becoming one of Sondheim’s most popular and frequently revived works.
Major productions/concert performances/recordings:
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1985 Playwright Horizons Workshop
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1986 Old Globe Theatre Tryout
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1987 Broadway
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1988 National Touring Company Cast
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1990 London Production
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1991 Television
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1997 Tenth Anniversary Concert
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1998 London Production
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2002 Los Angeles Production
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2002 Broadway Revival Production
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2008 Barcelona Production
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2009 London Production
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2010 Regents Park London Production
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2012 Public Theater Production
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2014 Bridewell Production
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2014 Movie
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2015 Off-Broadway Revival (Roundabout)
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2015 Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester
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2016 Opera North/West Yorkshire Playhouse
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2016 London Revival (Menier Chocolate Factory)
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2019 Hollywood Bowl Concert
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2022 Northern Ireland Opera
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2022 New York City Center Encores!
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2022 Broadway Revival
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2022 Theatre Royal Bath
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2025 London Revival (Bridge Theatre)
Broadway Production (1987)
Martin Beck Theatre (now Al Hirschfeld Theatre), 302 W 45th St, New York
Previews: 29 September 1987 (43 previews)
Opens: 5 November 1987
Closes: 3 September 1989
Performances: 765
Director: James Lapin
Set Designer: Tony Straiges
Lighting Designer: Richard Nelson
Costume Designer: Ann Hould-Ward
Costumes based on original concepts by Patricia Zipprodt and Ann Hould-Ward
Magic Consultant: Charles Reynolds
Sound Designer: Alan Stieb and James Brousseau
Hair Designer: Phyllis Della Illien
Casting: Joanna Merlin
General Management: David Strong Warner, Inc.
Musical Staging: Lar Lubovitch
Musical Director: Paul Gemignani
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick
Cast:
Narrator/Mysterious Man: Tom Aldredge (replaced by Dick Cavett on 19 July 1988; Edmund Lyndeck on 13 September 1988)
Cinderella: Kim Crosby (replaced by Patricia Ben Peterson)
Jack: Ben Wright (replaced by Jeff Blumenktantz; Ben Wright)
Baker: Chip Zien
Baker’s Wife: Joanna Gleason (replaced by Lauren Mitchell on 28 June 1988; Kay McClelland (alternate) on 28 June 1988; Mary Gordon Murray on 19 July 1988; Cynthia Sikes on 15 November 1988; Joanna Gleason on 23 May 1989; Kay McClelland on 27 May 1989.
Cinderella’s Stepmother: Joy Franz
Florinda: Kay McClelland
Lucinda: Lauren Mitchell
Jack’s Mother: Barbara Bryne
Little Red Ridinghood: Danielle Ferland (replaced by LuAnne Ponce on 20 September 1988)
Witch: Bernadette Peters (replaced by LuAnne Ponce on 20 September 1988; Phylicia Rashad on 14 April 1988; Betsy Joslyn 5 July 1988; Nancy Dussault on 13 December 1988; Bernadette Peters on 23 May 1989; Nancy Dussault on 27 May 1989; Ellen Foley on 1 August 1989)
Cinderella’s Father: Edmund Lyndeck
Cinderella’s Mother/Grandmother/Giant: Merle Louise
Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince: Robert Westenberg
Rapunzel: Pamela Winslow (replaced by Marin Mazzie on 7 March 1989)
Rapunzel’s Prince: Chuck Wagner (replaced by Dean Butler on 7 March 1989; Don Goodspeed)
Steward: Philip Hoffman (replaced by Adam Grupper)
Snow White: Jean Kelly (replaced by Heather Shulman; Cindy Robinson)
Sleeping Beauty: Maureen Davis
Musical Numbers:
Act One
“Prologue: Into the Woods” – Narrator and Company
“Cinderella at the Grave” – Cinderella and Cinderella’s Mother
“Hello, Little Girl” – Wolf and Little Red Ridinghood
“I Guess This Is Goodbye” – Jack
“Maybe They’re Magic” – Baker and Baker’s Wife
“I Know Things Now” – Little Red Ridinghood
“A Very Nice Prince” – Cinderella and Baker’s Wife
“First Midnight” – Company
“Giants in the Sky” – Jack
“Agony” – Cinderella’s Prince and Rapunzel’s Prince
“It Takes Two” – Baker’s Wife and Baker
“Second Midnight” – Company
“Stay With Me” – Witch and Rapunzel
“On the Steps of the Palace” – Cinderella
“Finale Act One: Ever After” – Narrator and Company
Act Two
“Prologue: So Happy” – Company
“Agony” (Reprise) – Cinderella’s Prince and Rapunzel’s Prince
“Lament” – Witch
“Any Moment” – Cinderella’s Prince and Baker’s Wife
“Moments in the Woods” – Baker’s Wife
“Your Fault” – Baker, Jack, Little Red Ridinghood, Witch, Cinderella
“Last Midnight” – Witch
“No More” – Baker and Mysterious Man
“No One Is Alone” – Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Baker, Jack
“Finale Act Two: Children Will Listen” – Witch and Company
Orchestra
Musical Director: Paul Gemignani
Violin I: Marilyn Reynolds (Concert Mistress)
Violin II: Laura Corcos
Viola I: Karl Bargen
Viola II: Maxine Roach
Cello: Eileen Folson
Stand-Up Bass: John Beal
Flute: Les Scott
Clarinet: John Moses
Bassoon: John Campo
Horn I: Ron Sell (House Contractor)
Horn II: Richard Hagen
Trumpets: Wilmer Wise
Piano: Paul Ford
Synthesizers: Scott Frankel (Assistant Conductor)
Percussion: Robert Ayers
Awards
Tony
Best Score (Stephen Sondheim)
Best Book (James Lapine)
Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason)
Drama Desk
Best Musical
Best Lyrics (Stephen Sondheim)
Best Book for a Musical (James Lapine)
Featured Actor in a Musical (Robert Westenberg)
Featured Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason)
New York Drama Critics' Circle
Best Musical
Outer Critics Circle
Oustanding Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason)
Theatre World Awards
Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason)
Production Stills: Martha Swope/NYPL for the Performing Arts
London Revival (2025)
Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London SE1 2SG
Previews: 3 December 2025 (10 previews)
Opens: 11 December 2025
Closes: 18 April 2026
Performances: 206?
Director: Jordan Fein
Set & Costument Designer: Tom Scutt
Music Supervisor & Musical Director: Mark Aspinall
Orchestrator: Jonathan Tunick
Sound Designer: Adam Fisher
Lighting Designer: Aideen Malone
Video Designer: Roland Horvath
Moment Director: Jenny Ogilvie
Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Designer: Sam Cox
Puppetry Designers: Cheryl "Chuck" Brown, Max Humphries, Tom Scutt
Casting Director: Stuart Burt
Production Manager: Chris Hay
Associate Director: Georgia Green
Scenic Associate: David Allen
Associate Musical Director: Alex Beetschen
Associate Sound Designer: Ollie Durrant
Associate Lighting Designer: Lucy Adam
Associate Costume Designer & Costume Supervisor: Lucy Martin
Props Supervisors: Jonathan Hall & Chris Marcus for Marcus Hall Props
Cast:
Grandmother/Giant: Valda Aviks
Cinderella’s Father: Geoffrey Aymer
Baker's Wife: Katie Brayben
Rapunzel: Bella Brown
Cinderella: Chumisa Dornford-May
Standby: Taite-Elliot Drew
Witch: Kate Fleetwood
Jack: Jo Foster
Standby: Jacob Fowler
Narrator/Mysterious Man: Michael Gould
Cinderella's Stepmother: Jennifer Hepburn
Lucinda: Hana Ichijo
Jack's Mother: Julie Jupp
Florinda: Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson
Standby: Sophie Linder-Lee
Little Red Ridinghood: Gracie McGonigal
Steward: Hughie O'Donnell
Baker: Jamie Parker
Standby: Chloe Saracco
Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf: Oliver Savile
Rapunzel's Prince: Rhys Whitfield
Musical Numbers:
Act One
"Opening: Into the Woods" - Narrator and Company
"Cinderella at the Grave" - Cinderella and Cinderella's Mother
"Hello, Little Girl" - Wolf and Little Red Ridinghood
"I Guess This Is Goodbye" - Jack
"Maybe They're Magic" - Baker and Baker's Wife
"I Know Things Now" - Little Red Ridinghood
"A Very Nice Prince" - Cinderella and Baker's Wife
"First Midnight" - Company
"Giants in the Sky" - Jack
"Agony" - Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince
"A Very Nice Prince" (Reprise) - Cinderella and Baker's Wife
"It Takes Two" - Baker's Wife and Baker
"Second Midnight" - Company
"Stay With Me" - Witch and Rapunzel
"On the Steps of the Palace" - Cinderella
"Finale Act One: Ever After" - Narrator and Company
Act Two
"Opening: So Happy" - Narrator and Company
"Agony" (Reprise) - Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince
"Witch's Lament" - Witch
"Any Moment" - Cinderella's Prince and Baker's Wife
"Moments in the Woods" - Baker's Wife
"Your Fault" - Baker, Jack, Little Red Ridinghood, Witch, Cinderella
"Last Midnight" - Witch
"No More" - Baker and Mysterious Man
"No One Is Alone" - Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Baker, Jack
"Finale Act Two: Children Will Listen" - Witch and Company
Orchestra
Musical Director/Keyboard 1: Mark Aspinall
Associate Musical Director/Keyboard 2: Alex Beetschen
Percussion: Dominic Sales
Double Bass: Martin Ludenbach
Violin: Rebecca Bill
Viola: Victoria Stephenson
Cello: Dom Pecheur
Flute/Piccolo: Katie Mogford
Clarinet: James Mainwaring
Bassoon: Lully Bathurst
Trumpet: Seb Philpott
French Horn: Linday Kempley
Rehearsal Pianist: Cat Beveridge
Production Photography: Johan Persson
Rehearsal Photography: Craig Sugden
